STEIN, JOSHUA B., beloved husband of Penney (Taubman), devoted father of Daniel and daughter-in-law Suzanne, Jeremy and daughter-in-law Amanda, and Samuel and daughter-in-law Sarah, loving brother of Michael, died peacefully at home on September 8, 2012, after battling prostate cancer for 18 years. Son of Dr. Joseph and Sylvia (Tancer) Stein, he grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and was a devoted fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo and earned a Ph.D in history from St. Louis University and an MA in Religious Studies from Brown University. He began graduate school with an interest in medieval history, but eventually concentrated in modern Europe, writing his dissertation on Britain and the Jews of Germany, 1933-1939. He taught in the History Department at Roger Williams University for 43 years, specializing in Western Civilization, modern European, ancient and medieval history, religion and the history of religion. He later developed an interest in the US Constitution and American democracy. He was a gifted and devoted teacher who communicated his knowledge and erudition through compelling stories and narratives, inspiring students to “shout across time”— receiving messages and lessons from the past and always looking forward toward the future. At Roger Williams University Stein established the Alpha Chi Honors Society and served as its faculty advisor for six years. In 1994 he created the RWU Honors Program and served as its faculty director until 2000. He also served as President of the Faculty Senate, chair of the History Department and Faculty Advisor of Hillel. In the Rhode Island community, Joshua Stein was known for his column in the Jewish Voice and Herald, “From the Old Olivetti,” which he wrote from 2006 to 2012. His weekly Shabbatshalomagram, an email digest of his thoughts, stories and activities, was a highlight for his more than 300 readers for over a decade. Joshua B. Stein was the author of seven books: Claude G. Montefiore on the Ancient Rabbis; Lieber Freund: Letters of Montefiore to Schechter; Our Great Solicitor; Fields of Summer; Shout Across Time: The Joy of History; Commentary on the Constitution from Plato to Rousseau; Religion and the State: Europe and North America in the 17th and 18th Centuries; and many scholarly articles and papers. His wit, humor, love of history, zest for life, and dedication to teaching and scholarship will be missed by his family, friends, colleagues and students. Funeral Services will be held TODAY, Monday September 10th at 10:00 AM in Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence with burial in Swan Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Roger Williams University, JCDS of RI or Temple Emanu-El. Shiva will be observed at his late residence.
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